The Daily Mirror claims the Brazil international is said to be tempted by a switch to Bayern as it would allow him to remain in Germany, where he is settled, but that has not deterred the Blues from attempting to secure a deal before the summer transfer window opens.

The aim is to get a £20m agreement in place in the coming weeks and ward off interest from elsewhere.

City are widely-expected to embark on an extensive recruitment drive at the end of a bitterly disappointing campaign, which will end without a piece of silverware.

Instead of fighting to retain their Premier League title, they have found themselves in a battle to simply secure a top-four finish and qualification for next season’s Champions League.

They exited both domestic competitions prematurely and once again failed to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, leaving manager Manuel Pellegrini under serious pressure.